Geac Library Solutions Wins US$500,000 Contract With Major Netherlands University

Abstract: Geac announced that its Library Solutions division has won a new license and maintenance agreement for Vubis Smart library automation software with the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The contract is valued at more than US$500,000. Vubis Smart will be used in the University’s Central Library and all 12 branches of the Vrije Universiteit.

MARKHAM, Ontario, January 14, 2004 – Geac (TSX:GAC) today announced that its Library Solutions division has won a new license and maintenance agreement for Vubis Smart® library automation software with the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. The contract is valued at more than US$500,000. Vubis Smart will be used in the University's Central Library and all 12 branches of the Vrije Universiteit.

“After an extensive search process in which the Library of the Vrije Universiteit looked into different applications, we selected Vubis Smart,” said Daan Schut, Librarian of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. “Vubis Smart is state of the art technology and has been installed in several other libraries in the last year. Also, the reliable service we received from Geac over the past 15 years was another important factor that made us choose Geac again.”

Vubis Smart is a next generation solution for library automation with an intuitive Windows interface, flexible data management and extensive functionality. Key strengths of Vubis Smart are the user-driven tools within the product that put the library in control of managing collections, catalogue information, borrowers, items, transactions and acquisitions. The Web OPAC is controlled and customised by the library to provide a knowledge portal for all the information needs of the diverse users of the VUA.

“We are delighted that the University has chosen Vubis Smart to replace its existing Geac PLUS system,” said Jon Brooks, Managing Director of Geac's global Library Solutions Division. “This selection is especially significant because the University conducted a full review of the strongest local and international competition, and Vubis Smart came out on top.”

“The choice of Vubis Smart by the Vrije Universiteit is another example of the success of this product,” said Eric van Lubeek, General Manager of Geac's Northern Europe Library Solutions Division. “Since the launch, Geac has signed more than 100 contracts for Vubis Smart. This win underlines Geac's strategy to develop academic as well as public library systems, and reinforces Geac's strong position in Higher Education in the Netherlands.”

About the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

The Vrije Universiteit first opened its doors to students in 1880 in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands and a renowned cultural, scientific and commercial centre for many centuries. Throughout the past century, the university has continued to expand. It now comprises 12 faculties (Arts, Earth and Life Sciences, Dentistry, Human Movement Sciences, Economics and Business Administration, Law, Medicine, Philosophy, Psychology and Education, Sciences, Social-Cultural Sciences, and Theology) and has teaching facilities for 16,000 students. The university campus and university hospital are situated in the south-western part of Amsterdam, one of the most dynamic and fast-growing business districts in the Netherlands.

About Geac

Geac (TSX: GAC) is a global enterprise software company for Business Performance Management, providing customers worldwide with the core financial and operational solutions and services to improve their business performance in real time. Geac Library Solutions Division is a leading provider of information management solutions to over 2,000 information centres including national, public, academic and corporate and special libraries in more than 20 countries throughout the world. Further information is available at www.geac.com or through email at info@geac.com.